Dog parks are great treat for any pooch & in an urban environment they are nearly essential to maintaining a well balanced dog. Many parks go beyond a simple fenced enclosure to offer a real community for dog owners. To be able to really participate in that community you should know what’s expected of you and your dog. The bonus is that by following proper dog park etiquette you’re sure to enjoy your time with your four legged friend at the local dog run just a little bit more.
The Basics
- All dogs should be licensed (most towns require it) & up to date on all vaccines (Bordatella, Rabies & DHLPP)
- Dogs must wear a collar or harness (with proper ID & tags)
- You must have a leash handy for each dog
- Never bring a dog that has aggression issues
- Spaying or neutering is recommended
- Never bring a bitch in heat or puppies under 4 months old
- Discourage any excessive barking
- No mounting other dogs!
- Bring bags & immediately clean up your dogs poop
- You are responsible for all the dogs you bring and anything they do, so never bring more dogs than you can handle & be alert!
Going The Extra Mile
- Meet & greet - Make it a point to introduce yourself & your dogs
- Bring poop bags, old tennis balls & extra toys to help replenish park supplies
- Many urban dog runs are user supported. Donate your time, money or effort to maintaining the park.
- Be proactive and alert for any escalating tussles between any dog & help when possible
- Keep your dog well clear of the gate when others are entering/exiting
Did I miss any? Please feel free to add your etiquette suggestions in the comments.
3 responses so far ↓
1 Mark // Jun 27, 2007 at 11:06 am
Might I add one more item that is close to me, which came about while helping an Environmental group, here in Houston, Texas.
A number of cities have an open sewer system that travel directly into the water system without going through any water treatment facility.
The largest contaminant in the Galveston Bay area of Houston/Galveston, which I am sure applies to other cities where water can travel into a larger area, comes from poop bags that have been thrown in to the sewer system.
Most poop bags are not biodegradable, and will clog pipes and cause cities tens of thousands of dollars to clean the debris, and then hauling it off to a land fill.
It is almost a catch 22 situation, over time, the poop would have broken down if left in place, and would have been absorbed by the ground, or if scooped up and placed in a ground with a mild enzyme, would go through the ground water system and not contaminate the water in these cities.
There probably are a number of alternatives, just good pet ownership practices, as you suggest, respecting the environment, and not throwing debris in a sewer, would be a good start.
2 Tracy27 // Sep 7, 2007 at 3:49 pm
Seuss - do you have advice on how best to protect your pup from another aggressive dog in leash-free spaces like parks (especially when the other owner can’t/won’t control their dog)?
Awesome site, by the way.
3 Seuss // Sep 11, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Tracy27,
First and foremost if you aren’t in a fully fenced in area then you are not in a “leash-free” space. In any event I always recommend responding to a “lacking” owner the same as you would a parent not monitoring their child. This holds true even for minor aggressive behaviors like unwanted tackle or mouth play etc. In short, be very vocal.
When you are dealing with a truly dangerous issue with an owner that can’t be bothered to control their dog do not be afraid to involve appropriate authorities (SPCA, animal control, police etc.)
Hope that helps you out. Thanks for the compliment on the site, it’s very much a work in progress.
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